N.Korean official discusses energy cooperation with China: Yonhap

BEIJING -- North Korea's top external economic policymaker held in-depth discussions with China on expanding cooperation in the energy sector this week, sources said Tuesday.

Ku Bon-tae, vice minister of external economic affairs, arrived in Beijing on Monday and held a series of meetings with China's officials in charges of economy and trade policies and business executives, according to the sources. Before Ku's arrival, the North Korean Embassy had contact with the Far Eastern Group, a Chinese conglomerate, to discuss large-scale joint venture projects, they noted.

Ku's trip, which followed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to China on June 19-20, appears to be intended to ask Beijing to ease sanctions on the North in return for its denuclearization pledge and discuss energy sector cooperation, including an expansion of the electrical grid in the North, the sources said. Ku currently doubles as vice chairman of the Pyongyang-based Korea International General Joint Venture Co., they noted.
(Yonhap)